Seminar

How Firms Adapt their Pace of Imitation over the Industry Technology Cycle

23 November 2023
Start time 
2:00 pm
Palazzo di Economia - Via Inama 5, Trento
Seminar room, first floor
Organizer: 
PhD programme in Economics and Finance and PhD programme in Economics and Management
Target audience: 
Everyone
Attendance: 
Free
Speaker: 
Claudio Giachetti - Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Abstract

This study explores the factors influencing the pace at which firms imitate innovations introduced by competitors, with a specific focus on periods of technological stability and periods of technological transition. We develop a set of hypotheses by integrating theories related to rivalry-based and information-based imitation with the literature on technological change. Analyzing approximately three decades of new product launches in the mobile phone industry, our empirical findings reveal that firms tend to imitate at a slower pace during periods of technological transition when compared to periods of technological stability. Furthermore, we uncover several contingencies that moderate this relationship.